NANDA CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Once again I believe we have maintained the momentum of previous years and consolidated our networks and engagements. This has been happily expressed in the growing support of member Groups for all our activities; save for the One Act Festival of which I will refer to later. This support has ranged from help with casting and direction, props ,staging and technical support. Moreover, later in the year we extended by request our membership to Groups in neighbouring Leicestershire and Warwickshire and I am pleased to report several of their number have now sought membership of our Association. We readily welcomed them aboard and look forward to a long term association with them and Nottinghamshire Groups in exploring ways to develop and mature such partnership.
For me personally the growth and influence of our Association over the past few years has been particularly rewarding and I readily thank all member Groups and Executive Committee members for the part they have played in this success. However, I think such endeavours have brought the Association to what might be termed a 'watershed'. We can either strive to grow or rest awhile in our pleasant heights before the inevitable fall into complacency. Naturally I rigoursly prefer the former option and that is why the Executive in the past year have embarked on a review of our many activities We have asked for example for a review of the Play of Year Competition to examine the methods and arrangements for adjudication and to reappraise the titles of some of the awards to make them more clearly relevant to today's production skills. The One Act Play Festival continued in the year to founder and a decision is urgent as the whether we continue, abandon or replace this competition. Member Groups continued during the year to stage One Acts but for some reason felt unable to participate in this, one of our long term engagements. Its future may well depend on the results of a consultation document now with member Groups to consider.
Moreover I believe the time is right to explore or resurrect new ventures. One initiative I am to suggest to the Executive is a 'Getting back to basics' programme ; a series of two hour presentations delivered at weekends and designed to help member Groups with acting and production techniques. This suggestion is prompted from the feedback to the successful 'Directors Course'. These sessions would be led by experienced local practitioners and available at low cost to our member Groups
I would also like to see an extension of our social programme to engage members on a more regular basis by more theatre lunches, talks and visits to regional theatres. For example NANDA'S annual pilgrimage to Stratford seems to me ' ripe for resurrection' . All other ideas gratefully received
Of course to achieve this extended programme we do need more volunteers from Groups to serve not only by attendance but with ideas on the Executive Council. I was acutely made aware of this during the year by the pending and much lamented but highly deserved retirement of our President Roy Ainscough. I intend to say so much more by way of thanks at a later event of the invaluable service he has rendered to NANDA over the years ,but in advising of his retirement Roy spoke of the need for 'succession planning'. How right he is. A powerful case could be presented in the case of the Executive Council. Whilst we are all ready and eager to continue to serve our motivation and incentive would be so much more enhanced by the presence of some new blood and ideas. Could member Groups please, please note and action by offering names and skills to strengthen our ranks
I now turn to the activities that formed the basis of our work for 2014/15
In October 2014 NANDA organised by request a Directors course led by husband Bob which was staged at Baptist Church Mansfield Road Nottingham for the benefits of 10 participants on the three evening sessions held on consecutive weeks, culminating in a rehearsed presentation on the final session. It again proved very popular and further requests have been received for the staging of a another course in the near future and or possible promotion for individual NANDA group members at their own rehearsal venues.
In January 2015 forty two people attended the Crowne Plaza Nottingham for a Theatre Dinner led by Norman Pace the Newark born actor who gave a lively and vivid account of his experience in theatre and television. The topics covered were wide ranging and drew many questions from a highly engaged audience. Thanks especially to Linda and Howard Whitehurst for the major part they played in staging this event
Sadly in March 2015 we had to cancel the One Act Play Festival due to the lack of sufficient entries but NANDA was able to secure 'a bye' for the West Bridgford Dramatic Society's production of Act 1 of Top Girls which was later presented at the Quarter Final of the All England Theatre Festival held at the Bonington Theatre Arnold on the 25th April.
This Quarter Final of the National All England Competition was an important event for NANDA as it was the first time the Event had been held in Nottingham for many years .The event was won by the Abbey Players Nuneaton with their production of 'Just a straight Man'. West Bridgford secured the runners up place and went on to be awarded second place in the ensuing Semi Final held at Burton Trent . The event was adjudicated with panache by Stephen Godward of Nottingham. The Quarter Final at Bonington was very well attended and I am pleased to record the Lord Mayor of Gedling, the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council and the National Chairman of the All England Theatre Festival ,along with myself as Chairman of NANDA were in attendance. It was indeed an important day for us
On the 9th May 2015 we staged the Annual Youth Festival at the Chilwell Olympia Theatre under the adjudication of Di Richards. There were six entries with ELAPS winning the event with their stylish production of 'The Brothers Grimm', the Runner up being the People's Theatre with their staging of 'The Story of Cinderella' Thanks again to Jean Lebeter and Sonya Oates for all their work in staging this event.
The Play of the Year Competition attracted 13 entries form six Groups with the winning entry being received from the Lace Market Theatre with their production of the play 'Damages'. The Runner up was the West Bridgford entry of 'Top Girls'. The Adjudicator was Dan Maddison who gave his appraisal of all the entries received at the enjoyable Awards Dinner held on the 12th June at the Crowne Plaza Hotel ,with over 100 people attending.
Under the able guidance of Howard Whitehurst the Nanda Facebook page continued to grow in popularity and this I believe will be an important vehicle in promoting the new ventures currently being considered by the Executive. Moreover our web page is ably maintained by Mike Stewart and continues to draw our amazed attention to the 'hits' being regularly received from around the world
Finally in conclusion my report would be incomplete without reference and sincere thanks to all members of the Executive Council who have given me ,as ever, their unstinting support throughout the year. Their dedication and commitment to NANDA is a pleasure for me to humbly report. However we were all saddened in recent months to learn of the deaths of two NANDA stalwarts . Tony Armstrong and Shirley Bradshaw. . Sad losses of stalwarts were also sustained by several of our member Groups during the year.
NANDA and in particular amateur drama in our region will sadly miss the distinctive and memorable contributions they have made for the benefit of all of us over the years
Thank you all again for your advice and counsel and I am now arranging for this report to be sent to all Groups in the hope that it will stimulate both interest and action
I remain
JOAN WILDGUST
CHAIRMAN OF NANDA